Vikings host Dallas in home preseason opener, but where's home?

The Minnesota Vikings have released their preseason schedule, which includes hosting Dallas at home sometime between Aug. 25-28.

The question is, where will "home" be? More than that, will there even be a season, let alone a preseason?

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission is promising that work to replace the Metrodome's deflated roof will be finished in time for the Dallas game. The team's schedule buys time for the project, starting with away games at Tennessee and Seattle.

But if there's a hang up, the team will be homeless, and likely have to commute to TCF Bank Stadium at the U of M. Anyone want to lay odds on the dome being ready on time?

Home sweet home last December.

Then there's the matter of the NFL lockout. Players and owners are scheduled to begin mediation talks on Thursday, as ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Nelson in Minneapolis. The last round of talks went nowhere, and ended with the lockout, and there's no mandate in the court order that the two sides reach a final agreement this time around.

Should we be optimistic? Here's the preseason schedule. The dates will firm up later this month:

Week 1 (August 12-13): at Tennessee

Week 2 (August 19-20): at Seattle

Week 3 (August 26-27): vs. Dallas

Week 4 (August 31 - September 1): vs. Houston

If and when the regular season gets going, here' who the Vikings will host at home: Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Oakland and Denver.